“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalms 119:105 (ESV)
Truly this is a dark and fallen world that we live in, and sometimes it can be so hard to know which way to go or what to do amidst all the darkness. It is especially in those times that we need to be like the Psalmist and dive into the Word of God. His Word will not only light up the darkness around us and illuminate the path He has planned for us, but it will empower us to shine His light to those who are lost in a sea of darkness. Have you recharged your spiritual light lately? Get into the Word right now — put down your phone or tablet and take some time with God.
Jessica Ford Communications Director Alive Ministries USA
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” James 1:22-24 (ESV)
If you are simply “hearing” God’s Word and not “doing” it (or applying it to your life), then you truly are deceiving yourself. You may pat yourself on the back for being in church every Sunday for the sermon, or for reading your Bible and learning verses, but that is not the whole of what we as Christians are called to do. If we do not apply the Scriptures to our lives, how easily they can “go in one ear and out the other” and be forgotten, as the man in James’ example forgets what his own face looks like. James here in today’s verses reminds — and indeed challenges — us that we must act on what we are reading and hearing from the Scriptures in order to grow spiritually. If we want a closer walk with God and deeper roots of spiritual wisdom then we must live out the words within His Word. So, are you just hearing or are you doing?
Jessica Ford Communications Director Alive Ministries USA
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1 (ESV)
In the early Jewish faith it was more than just tradition to offer sacrifices to God, it was a requirement of His law. Yet, when Christ Jesus gave Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of all mankind on the cross at Calvary, that was the fulfillment of the sacrificial law. Paul exhorts the readers of this epistle — then and now — that God now required a different sacrifice than burnt offerings on an altar. Here Paul calls for Christians to present themselves as holy, acceptable sacrifices, just as the sacrificial animals were to be without blemish. In order to do so, we must guard our thoughts, our words, our actions, and be faithfully executing good and righteous works for the Kingdom. In so doing, we will present our bodies as living sacrifices by obeying the commands of God. Even Samuel knew in the days of sacrifices that obeying God was more important to Him than the offering of sacrifices. “And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV) So how is your sacrifice? Does it need a little work before it is presentable before God? What are you waiting for?
Jessica Ford Communications Director Alive Ministries USA
“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” Psalms 143:10 (ESV)
This should be the cry of every believer’s heart and soul. Faith is not simply one moment in time when you choose to believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross (and rose from the grave three days later) to pay the price of your sins to make right your relationship with your Creator God. Rather, faith is a journey throughout our time here on earth. It involves putting our trust in what we cannot see but what we feel and what we know to be true. It also demands that we not remain stagnant in our journey; we should constantly be seeking God’s will for our lives that we might walk on that “level ground” He has prepared for us. How are you doing on your faith journey? Do you need a fuel up? Reach out to God right now — wherever you are and whatever you are doing — and ask for His guidance.
Jessica Ford Communications Director Alive Ministries USA
“From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!” Psalms 113:3 (ESV)
Not just on Sunday morning. Not just when speaking with your “Christian friends”. Not only when things go “right” or the way you want them to in life. “From the rising of the sun to its setting” — or, at all times and in all things — “the name of the Lord is to be praised!” “He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”” (Luke 19:40 ESV) We should not wait for the stones to cry out; rather, we should busy ourselves with shouting the praises of our Lord and Creator from sunrise to sunset each and every day!
Jessica Ford Communications Director Alive Ministries USA
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” Proverbs 21:2 (ESV)
How true is this? I am certain we all know at least one person that genuinely believes they know everything and can do no wrong. Most likely, if we can be honest with ourselves, we too can all too often try and justify the wrongdoings (read: sin) in our lives as having the right motives or calling ourselves “only human” to brush off the severity. However, there is no way to justify not following God’s will and plan for our lives — we are either following Him or we are being disobedient to His commandments. God knows our every thought, every true motive, our true heart’s desires in life; so why try and talk our way out of it? If there is something you have been trying to convince yourself, God, or others that is right in your life that you know truly is not what God has designed you for, repent of that to Him right now and seek His wisdom moving forward.
Jessica Ford Communications Director Alive Ministries USA
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)
What is the difference between these two types of grief Paul is writing about to the Corinthians? First we need to know that they are both tied to sin. Paul is writing about the grief that follows sin, and what fruit it will bear in us depending upon the type of grief and our reaction to it. The first type of grief is “godly grief” which is when an act of sin brings us to our knees in sorrow and repentance by seeing that disobedience as a wedge that has been placed between us and our Lord. The second grief is a “worldly grief” which may mean we have no care at all after considering the act of our sin, or only feel guilt or shame based on the world around us (societal standards, peer pressure, etc.), and find ourselves non-repentant for that act of sin. These two types of grief have enormously different outcomes as they will either lead us further to God or further from Him. Godly grief and repentance will have us seeking forgiveness and desiring to live more righteously and following His Word and will; and worldly grief may only be brief before we “move on” and continue in a pattern of sinful living. When you recognize sin in your life, what type of grief are you experiencing from it?
Jessica Ford Communications Director Alive Ministries USA
“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:24 (ESV)
So often in the days of this prophet true justice was nonexistent. It was always prevented by bribery, the piety of the religious leaders of the time, etc. Here Amos pleads for justice and righteousness to reach everyone so that it cannot be avoided. With the metaphor of justice rolling “down like waters”, he implored God to reach the hearts of all mankind that they might turn from their sin entirely and seek repentance and God’s will. Will it take God pouring out justice and righteousness like mighty streams of water to bring you to repentance for the sin in your life, or are you ready to come to Him right now?
Jessica Ford Communications Director Alive Ministries USA
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5 (ESV)
Sometimes we are presented with an opportunity, a task, a question, or a crossroads that leaves us wondering what step(s) to take next. Often, it can even seem overwhelming to make a decision because fear, doubt, anxiety, and their friends, can come alongside us and cause us to worry about all the possible outcomes before we have made even one move. This is where wisdom, true wisdom (which only comes from above), comes into play. With it, we can step boldly into the unknown having the confidence that our Lord is with us each step of the way, and in fact has walked the path before us. So, worry or wisdom? Which will you choose the next time you are faced with one of life’s hurdles? Turn to God who gives His wonderfully true wisdom freely and graciously!
Jessica Ford Communications Director Alive Ministries USA
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4 (ESV)
Alright! The verse we have been waiting for! Just be happy with God and He will give you whatever you want! Wait. Is that what this verse really means? Well, there are certainly many false teachers out there that would lead you to believe so; however, there is a slight problem. The problem arises with “desires”, and what desires do you have — ones that line up with God’s will and righteousness, or carnal desires of wealth and prosperity? In order to obtain any of the “desires of your heart” you must first “delight yourself in the Lord” by following His direction for your life, reading, studying, and applying His Word to your life, maintaining a healthy prayer life, and fellowship with fellow believers. These actions will tune your heart to God so that what you desire is what He desires for you and through you. So yes, God will give you the “desires of your heart”, if you will make your focus Him and His will for you.
Jessica Ford Communications Director Alive Ministries USA
